Powering Possibility: Celebrating Solar Energy at Hope Community School
Last month, on the second-to-last day of our visit to Hope Community School in Twapia, Zambia, students, staff, and Spark’s travelers gathered for a joyful afternoon celebrating the new solar panels at the school, a development that has transformed daily life and learning at Hope.
Over the past couple of years, Hope, like every other school, business, and home in Zambia, has contended with frequent and prolonged power outages, some lasting up to 21 hours. These blackouts have significantly impacted daily life and education on Hope’s campus – including not being able to take full advantage of the technology in their classrooms. Thanks to the generous support of the John & Susan Dewan Foundation, the school now benefits from a reliable, uninterrupted source of solar power—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The solar panel celebration began with a song of thanks performed by the students, expressing their deep appreciation for this truly transformative change. Among the attendees were travelers Erica and Sue Dewan. We were so grateful they were present for the occasion and had the opportunity to witness the impact of their foundation’s investment firsthand. Together with Charles Mumba, Co-Founder of Hope Community School, they addressed the group.
In his remarks, Charles recalled how just the previous evening, the Spark travelers who visited his home experienced the reality of limited electricity with just three hours of light before it went out and they finished their evening with battery powered bulbs and flashlights. For many in Zambia, this remains a daily reality. But at Hope, this problem has been solved. The school is the only in their area with solar energy, offering constant and consistent access to power and a new sense of possibility for students and staff alike.
With this advancement, learning can continue without interruption, digital tools can be used to their full potential, and we take a giant step towards educational equity and environmental stewardship. We are so happy Erica and Sue from the Dewan Foundation could be there to celebrate this feat in long-term sustainability with Hope.